Closure for collapsible tubes



cit, L 1935.

.1. J, BURCH 2,fl5,992

CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Original Filed Dec. 14, l933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Attorney Get 1, 1935. J. .1 BURCH 2,915,992

CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Original Filed Dec. 14, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor @3672]; Jfizzrak,

Ato'mey Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application December 14, 1933, Serial No. 702,407 Renewed February 21, 1935 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in valves or closures for collapsible tubes of the type commonly employed for toothpaste, shaving cream, ointment and the like, and has for its primary object to provide a valve for the purpose mentioned which may be used without requiring material alteration in the present construction of such tubes.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is an elevational view of a collapsible tube having the invention associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through the neck of the tube.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view with the valve in closed position.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the tube with the cap removed, and certain parts of the tube broken away and shown in section for illustrating the invention.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially at right angles to Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a plan view of a strengthening annulus.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that it designates a collapsible tube that is of conventional construction, and of the type commercially used for containing and dispensing toothpaste, shaving cream and the like. The tube i9 is provided with a threaded neck H and the usual cap I 2.

In accordance with the present invention a valve for the tube is provided, and the same is in the form of a cylinder l3 that has a sliding fit within the neck H and is closed at its upper end and open at its lower end as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 5. Adjacent its upper end the cylindrical valve I3 is provided with a discharge port l4, while at said upper end the valve is provided with a circular outstanding flange 15 that is adapted to engage the outer end of the neck II for limiting inward movement of the valve. The use of the valve will not interfere with cap l2.

Mounted within the cylindrical valve I3 is an attaching eye l6 that has integral therewith ppositely extending inclinedarms 11 which at their lower ends are secured in any suitable manner such as indicated generally at l8 to the wall of the valve 53 with the terminals of the arms externally of the valve bent laterally in opposite when the tube is squeezed so as to force paste 15 therefrom the elastic member l9 will stretch permitting the valve i3 to pass outwardly of the neck I l a suflicient distance to uncover the port l4 and allow the paste to pass through the port M to be exuded from the tube. action of the tube ceases the elastic member l9 will exert its force to retract or draw the valve I 3 inwardly of the neck I l for closing the port l4. With this construction it will be apparent that the elastic member to be rolled from the lower end thereof toward the neck H without interfering with the eificient operation of the valve.

To prevent the tube I 5 at the neck equipped end thereof from collapsing and otherwise interfering with the operation of the valve l3 there is secured within the tube It an annular reinforcing member or ring 2i as clearly shown in Figure 4.

Having thus described my invention, what I 35 claim as new is:

In a device of the character described, a collapsible tube having a neck, a hollow valve mem' ber having a sliding fit within said neck, a pair of oppositely inclined arms secured at one end to the valve member at diametrically opposite sides thereof, said arms converging inwardly of the valve, an eye integral with and connecting said arms, and an elastic member having one end connected to said eye, and havi g its opposite end passing through said tube and connected to the opposite end of said tube.

JOSEPH J. BURCH.

end thereof sealed in the 10 As soon as the pinching 20 [9 will permit the tube 

